The Bob Feller Museum, the City of Van Meter and the Veterans Reception Center of Van Meter will hold an "Iowa Baseball Symposium" on Saturday October 11 at the Veterans Reception Center in Van Meter. In addition to baseball presentations, featured guests will be former major league players and Iowa natives Mike Boddicker, Bruce Kimm and Jerry McNertney. All SABR members and guests are invited.

Four new gravesite pictures have been added to the website. All four are courtesy of Jim Simmelink.

Charlie Dexter was a 5'7" infielder who played in the majors from 1896-1903. Charlie was born in Evansville IN and attended the University of the South in Sewanee TN. His final four seasons in the minor leagues were in Des Moines and presumably he settled in Des Moines after his playing career ended.

Pat Donahue, a catcher, spent three years (1908-1910) of a 13 year playing career in the major leagues. Pat was born in 1884 in Springfield OH and died in Springfield in 1966. Why he was buried in Des Moines remains a mystery.

In a baseball career that began in 1896 and ended in 1906, Jesse Hoffmeister played only 48 games in the major leagues. During his minor league career he played for a number of Iowa teams including Ottumwa, Waterloo and Oskaloosa. He died in Des Moines in 1933 and is buried in Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Adrian Lynch was born in Laurens IA in 1897. He attended Notre Dame and pitched in 5 games with the 1920 St. Louis Browns earning a 2-0 record with a 5.24 ERA. He died in Davenport in 1934.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 August 2014 12:24

New Iowa Gravesite Photos Added

Written by Steve Smith

Thursday, 24 July 2014 11:06

Three pictures of gravesites have been added to the list. They include Dick Kenworthy, a native of Red Oak IA and third baseman who played 125 games for the White Sox in the 1960's. Kenworthy is buried in Red Oak.

Lynn King was an outfielder who played 240 games for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1935 to 1939. King was born in Villisca IA and is buried there.

The third is Gil Paulsen who pitched two innings for the 1925 Cardinals in his first year in professional baseball. Paulsen allowed no earned runs so he has a 0.00 ERA for his brief major league career. He continued to pitch in the minor leagues until 1932 but never returned to the major leagues (There must be a story there somewhere). Paulsen was born in 1902 in Graettinger IA, died in 1994 at the age of 92 in Harlan IA and is buried in Marne IA.

The pictures were taken by Jim Simmelink of Adair IA. To view the pictures go to the list under the "Iowa" heading and click on "Iowa Baseball Gravesites.

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 July 2014 11:10

New Iowa Baseball Website

Written by Steve Smith

Friday, 04 July 2014 15:09

Jim Simmelink of Adair IA is interested in Iowans who have played professional baseball. He has created a website entitled "Iowa Professional Baseball Connection."

Courtesy of Rich Lowe of Bonaparte IA, the photo of the gravesite of Pitcher Roxie Lawson of Donnellson IA has been added. To get to the gravesite pictures, click on Iowa Baseball and click on Iowa Baseball Gravesites.